Abolition of Abortion in Texas Resolution

How to Participate in Conventions to Support Abolition

One of the ways we can support the cause of abolition in Texas is by submitting resolutions calling for abolition to your local county Republican Party through their convention process.

You must vote in the Republican primary to attend your precinct convention. It may be on election night or a day between then and March 24. To find the date, location, and learn how it works, go to:https://www.texasgop.org/precinct-conventions/

Attendance at your Precinct Convention (being a delegate) will allow you to move from Precinct, to Senate District Convention/County Convention, to the State Convention.

Every precinct MAY have a precinct chairman or chairwoman. Technically this person picks up an envelope from the Election Judge with instructions on how to select delegates to the Senate Convention and introduce resolutions.

Step 1. Register to vote. The deadline has passed in Texas for the March 6th primary, but go ahead and register for the next time!

Step 2. Take advantage of early voting from February 20th to March 2nd and then Election Day March 6th. You must vote to engage in the Precinct Convention.

Step 3. SHOW UP! Again, notice will be posted as to the time and location for your Precinct Convention at your voting place. But, checking you local party’s websites and social media can help you with this. Additionally, you should confirm by calling your County Chairman.

Step 4. You may or may not have anyone else from your precinct that attends. You are able to hold a Precinct Convention by yourself. Use this Sample Script provided by the Republican Party of Texas to help you walk through the process.

The Precinct Convention follows these steps:

1. Calling the meeting to order

2. Have precinct convention delegates (attendees) sign in on the provided form

3. Determine the number of qualified participants –You do this by comparing the list of those who have voted in the Republican primary (acquired from the Election Judge) to the list of those on your sign-in sheet

4. Reviewing basic convention procedure

5. Electing permanent convention officers –not necessary if you are alone. The officers do not remain officers over any position as soon as the convention closes.

6. Announcement of County/District Convention.

7.Election of Delegates and Alternates –Add your name to the list! People can be added to the list if they are not present, but they must be voted in by the present delegation

8. Consideration of Resolutions –Read further for more detailed instruction on resolutions

9. Other Business

10. Adjournment

Step 5. You or your Precinct Chair must submit the minutes, delegate / alternate list, and adopted resolutions (in triplicate) to your County Chair within three days.

Like at precinct, here we will be offering and passing resolutions to abolish abortion, gathering information of supporters, and getting elected as delegates to one more level.

Resolution

The following is a resolution we are suggesting that you submit. Please read and understand the arguments as best you can and be ready to defend them.

Abolition of Abortion in Texas Resolution

WHEREAS: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness; and

WHEREAS: The 2016 Platform of the Republican Party of Texas (Platform) states that we believe in the “sanctity of innocent human life, created in the image of God, which should be protected from fertilization to natural death” (3), and that all “innocent human life must be respected and safeguarded from fertilization to natural death; therefore, the unborn… have a fundamental individual right to life, which cannot be infringed” (12); and

WHEREAS: The Platform also states: “Abolish Abortion – We call upon the Texas Legislature to enact legislation stopping the murder of unborn children; and to ignore and refuse to enforce any and all federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, and court rulings, which would deprive an unborn child of the right to life” (12), and this plank is included as a legislative priority of the party; and

WHEREAS: Despite commendable efforts by some, the 85th Texas Legislature failed to complete this priority, even though it gained nearly 90% support of delegates to the state convention; and

WHEREAS: Failure to re-adopt this legislative priority would send the wrong message; and

WHEREAS: Texas Penal Code § 1.07 defines an individual human person to mean “a human being who is alive, including an unborn child at every stage of gestation from fertilization until birth,” but Texas Penal Code § 19.06 denies preborn children the equal protection of our laws against murder; and

WHEREAS: The 10th Amendment provides, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Republican Party of Texas calls upon the Texas legislature to enact legislation to stop the murder of unborn children; and to ignore and refuse to enforce any and all federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, and court rulings which would deprive an unborn child of the right to life.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That we direct the State Party Chair and the State Republican Executive Committee to consider such repeal–and not other approaches that regulate abortion–as a legislative priority for the 2019 legislative session and to utilize reasonable Party resources necessary to promote and support its passage.

Adopted this _______ day of March, 2018, at the Precinct Convention of Precinct # ________ of the Republican Party of Texas.